San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1887-04-15


Colored Troops and the Salient
Features of the Drill.
Captain X. b. Green, commanding the
Belknap Rifles, has received the follow
ing letter from Il. Z. DeLeon, manag-
ing secretary Of the Washington drill,
which will be read with interest by all
who are interested In state militia.
WASHINGTON, ID. c., April 10. 1887.
GAIT. II. b. GREEN, Belknsp Rifles, San
Antonio, Texas.
CApTAIN:-Your night message, 9th
date, just received. In reply to query
as to part the colored troops will take
10 the encampment and drill" would
say.
|. There are three oolored companies
entered, viz: Company A. LIST Battn.
Va. Vols. 1.-THE ATTACKS Guards" and the
A. Cadet Battlln District Columbia Mil
itia. These three companies ere recog-
nized as regular National Guards; and
the two first named are entered as part
Of the Va. Brigade In camp, by Genl.
Chas. j. Anderson, commanding First
Brigade Virginia Volunteers.
2. The part these negro companies
will take In the enoampment will be to
have q camp separate from white troops
(eyen, | am informed by Gen. Anderson)
Of their own brigade. They will do
guard duty only In their own camp,
aud will not be thrown with white SOL
oilers on that duty.
/ 8. If they come, and II they drill for
the prize, they will do 80 for the regular
prizes offered. There will NOT be sepa-
rate prizes for negro troops, nor will
there be a negro day, as has been pro-
posed by some companies, dissatisfied
with their admission. This was proposed
to this committee by the negroes them
selves three months ago. Ii was not
considered advisable, because 1t would
open the door TO an immense rush OF
negro companies, north and south,
which would have been as unmansge-
able as unpleasant. This committee
considered the easiest and safest plan to
get rid Of the negro question, was to
ignore 1t. The result proved this true,
only three negro companies applying
as above named. These could easily
have been handled, had not this agita-
ton been made publicly as race ques-
tion.
4. On Governors Day, when the
troops from 20 states, all to be re-
viewed by the president and the COVER
nors Of 10 or 20 states, all the division In
camp will parade on Philadelphia Ave.
Ii the three negro companies are in
camp, they will doubtless parade, with
the brigade to which they are attached;
as they will probably not avail them
selves of the privilege to be excused.
8. Brigade dress parade will be held
each evening. When the turn comes OF
the brigade, to which the negro COM
panies are attached, they will be at
nrAarah
appear by the brigade general, COM
msnding that brigade.
These, captain, are exact facts, for
which you have asked fully. l
think you will see that they violate no
law, civil or military. The disposition
Of troops in camp belongs to the latter;
the right to parade In the public street
Of the Capital belongs to the former.
In national drill, announced as such
and open to all national guards and or
ganized militia, 1t would have been ille-
| gal whatever the question rs to Its pol
icy) to have refused negro companies 80
| organized, simply because negroes. We
are at the capital OF the United States,
with camp and drill on United States
reservations, under control Of United
States war department. These
are reasons which control the
facts above stated. The arbitrary
rule of rejection will not be used now
since the needless public discussion OF
that question.
The telegram OF Capt. Badger, stating
| you were both coming, and dated April
the Sth, causes me to request that you
show him this letter, at once on Its re-
| ceipt.
Iwould also request that this commit
tee be advised Of the final decision oil
| your two companies as to coming, by
wire, as soon as 1t is arrived at. We are
now arranging the detached companies
In regiments and brigades, and you will
see that any uncertainty about any com.
pany is mutually disadvantsgeous.
AS to the paragraph in Capt. Bad
gers telegram: c1f rates can be ar
Tanged.'D l presume there can be nc
doubt OF that. 1 was informed that the
G. & c., and B. & o. had already ar
ranged to bring the Texas troops. d
that, however, you can learn In detail
from Gen. John Glynn, Jr., genera
agent Queen and Crescent, New Or
leans. am, Captain, very respectfully
T. @. DELEoN,
Managing Secretary National Drill Com
| mittee.
P.S. Detailed list OF all entries is In
hands of printer and will be sent al
soon as corrected. 1t covers some q
states; one brigade, four regiments, sew
eral battalions and companies enough o.
infantry, artillery, zouaves and cadet
corps to aggregate about 1876 separate
organizations. l enclose clipping from
yesterdays "Star."